'miso' on Serious Eats

For most of us, miso automatically means Japanese, but chefs everywhere know just how versatile this sweet-salty-savory-nutty paste can be. Here our panel shares their favorite uses specifically for sweet, delicate white miso, finding uses for it in every corner of the kitchen. More

The other day I discovered that the secret to making the best chicken salad is to cook that chicken in a sealed bag, packing the bag with aromatics to infuse the chicken with extra flavor. The method works great in a classic mayo-based chicken salad but I hate to see a good technique relegated to one single use, so I decided to adapt it a bit. This Japanese-inspired chicken salad with a creamy miso dressing, avocado, and corn is a winner. More

Sake and shōchū combine in this Japanese twist on the Bloody Mary. Pungent powdered wasabi offers a spicy bite, while sweet and garlicky teriyaki sauce rounds things out. Garnished with pickled ginger and a togarashi rim, it's a savory, bright way to kick off brunch. More

This deeply savory, slightly tangy, and aromatic condiment can be folded into or sprinkled onto your food for a big hit of flavor. It's 100% vegan and designed to take the place of Parmesan in a pasta dish, but it's also great sprinkled on salads, sandwiches, roasted meats, grilled fish, burgers, or pizza. Anywhere you want extra savory flavor. More

This easy one-pot polenta and kale soup hails from Italy, but we give it a distinctly Japanese twist: In place of the Parmesan called for in a traditional recipe, we finish ours up with the addition of miso paste, soy sauce, and scallions. It's savory, rich, and 100% vegan. More

This easy one-pot polenta and kale soup hails from Italy, but we give it a distinctly Japanese twist: In place of the Parmesan called for in a traditional recipe, we finish ours up with the addition of miso paste, soy sauce, and scallions. It's savory, rich, and 100% vegan.
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The flavors of miso soup find their way to a crisp and crunchy snack in this homemade popcorn. The secret ingredient: instant miso soup mix with some pieces of crumbled seasoned nori snack sheets. So familiar, yet so new...and totally addictive. More

The flavors of miso soup find their way to a crisp and crunchy snack with these homemade potato chips. The secret ingredient: instant miso soup mix with some pieces of crumbled seasoned nori snack sheets. So familiar, yet so new...and totally addictive. More

I think there should be a t-shirt or sign that reads: Miso butter just makes it all better. Not soba noodles, shredded chicken, and crunchy vegetables come together in one pot. It take half an hour to make from start to finish, but it'll only take a fraction of that time to slurp it all up whether you use chopsticks or forks. More

I think there should be a t-shirt or sign that reads: Miso butter just makes it all better. Not soba noodles, shredded chicken, and crunchy vegetables come together in one pot. It take half an hour to make from start to finish, but it'll only take a fraction of that time to slurp it all up whether you use chopsticks or forks. More

These days, miso-marinated black cod is almost synonymous with Nobu Matsuhisa's New York restaurant, though he by no means invented the dish. It stems from a traditional Japanese preparation called kasuzuke, in which fish and vegetables are marinated in the leftover lees from sake production before being broiled or grilled. This is the fish dish to pull out when you're ready to blow away your spouse or dinner guests, but don't want to put more than five minutes of effort into making dinner. Five minutes. Really. More

This recipe combines a pork-based miso ramen with two brand-spanking new creations; my own personal humble additions to the ramen universe. The first is a crispy braised pork shoulder, while the second is a sweet, spicy, and bitter aromatic condiment. They're going to stick around my repertoire, and I hope you consider incorporating them into your own because—not to toot my own horn—they are damn delicious. More

Try as I might, I will never tire of in-season asparagus. But I do try to switch things up to make sure things stay interesting in the kitchen. One of my favorite variations is to pair the green stalks with white miso. More

I've long been a fan of bagna càuda, that magical Italian elixir of anchovies, garlic, and olive oil. I figure that almost any ingredient can be made better by dragging it through the potent sauce. But seeing its name in a Japanese cookbook was, frankly, a bit of a shock. Japanese plus Italian? I had to try it. More

I've long been a fan of bagna càuda, that magical Italian elixir of anchovies, garlic, and olive oil. I figure that almost any ingredient can be made better by dragging it through the potent sauce. But seeing its name in a Japanese cookbook was, frankly, a bit of a shock. Japanese plus Italian? I had to try it.
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